PIUS XI(February 6, 1922 – February 10, 1939) |
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AG 44 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · | PONT · MAX · ANNO· III· Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. (beneath the bust:) MISTRVZZI |
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Rev.: GREGORIANVM | ABHINC ANC SOC IESV REST The Facade of the Papal Gregorian University, the new building presented by Pope Pius XI.. NOVA SEDE DONATVR | MCMXXIV Bartolotti, E924. Mazio-Jencius, 883. |
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AG 60 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · | PONT · MAX Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. |
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Rev.: ANNO JVBILEI | ROMÆ MCMXXV Pope, with hammer, before the Holy Door of St. Peter's Basilica; surrounded by cardinals, bishops and courtiers. [Ceremony of the Opening of the Holy Door, Christmas, 1924] . |
Pius XI opening the Holy Door
Christmas, 1924
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The Pontifical Commission for Christian Archaeology was created by Pius IX (January 6, 1852) "to take care of the ancient sacred cemeteries, look after their preventive preservation, further explorations, research and study, and also safeguard the oldest mementos of the early Christian centuries, the outstanding monuments and venerable Basilicas in Rome, in the Roman suburbs and soil, and in the other Dioceses in agreement with the respective Ordinaries". Pius XI made the Commission pontifical (Motu Proprio I primitivi cemeteri of December 11, 1925) and expanded its powers. Through the Lateran Pacts (art. 33 of the Concordat), its authority and its sphere of action and study were extended to all the existing catacombs on the Italian territory. The new Concordat of 1984 (art. 12) confirmed this state of affairs for the Christian catacombs. "In the places entrusted to it, nothing can be modified without its permission; it directs any work to be done and publishes its results; it establishes the rules for access by the public and scholars to the sacred cemeteries and indicates which crypts can be used for the holy liturgy and with what precautions". Through the Commission, the work of the Roman Pontifical Academy of Archaeology and the Pontifical Institute of Christian Archaeology is coordinated. Moreover, the Commission continues to be interested in the activity of the Society for the Conferences of Christian Archaeology and the Collegium Cultorum Martyrum” (Motu Proprio of Pius XI, December 11, 1925; Regulations for the P.C.S.A., §II, No. 10). (Annuario Pontificio, 2001, pp. 1621-1622).
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AG Obv.: PIO · XI · VITT · EMAN · III (to left of busts:) O · MARINI Conjoined Busts of Pope Pius XI and King Vittorio Emannuele III, r., |
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CONCILIAZIONE | CHIESA–STATO (at left, in field) 1870–1929 | ANNO VII Coat of Arms of the Pope on a five-pointed star, above the Capitoline Wolf; an olive branch behind, horizontally. [Celebrating the Lateran Pact of 1929] Sculptor: O. Marini Calò, #7. |
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AG 36 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTI|FEX · MAXIMVS (beneath bust:) K. ROTH Bust of Pope Pius XI, l., wearing the papal Tiara (Triregnum) and cope |
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Rev.: TV·ES·PETRVS·ET·SVPER·HANC·PET|RAM·AEDIFICABO·ECCLESIAM· MEAM (in the field:) 19 | 29 Coat of Arms of the Pope. Above: Keys of St. Peter. Above all: Papal Tiara (triregnum) Sculptor: K. Roth Calò, p. 38 #19. |
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AG 36 mm Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONT · MAX Bust of Pope Pius XI, l., wearing zucchetto and cope |
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(AV, AG,) AE 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · SACRI · PRINC· ANNO · X · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope, l., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. |
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+LIB•BASILICAE•ARCU•MVSIVO•ALA•TRANSVERSA•PONT• MVNIFICIA•FELIC•RESTITVTIS•AN•AB•EPHESINA•SYNODO• MD The Interior of the Liberian Basilica (Santa Maria Maggiore). [Pius XI had the interior of the basilica restored, especially the triumphal arch and the tribuna, to celebrate the 1500th anniversary of the Ecumenical Council of Ephesus, A.D. 431] Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi Calò, p. 42, #29 |
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(AV, AG,) AE 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · A · X · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope, l., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. |
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AVRIBVS · PERCIPITE · OMNES · QVI · HABITATIS · ORBEM [in exergue:] XII · FEBR · MCMXXXI | IN · CIVIT · VATIC · Allegorical figure, with a trumpet, flying above the globe of the earth, rays of electricity emanating from his right hand. [Commemorates the opening of the Vatican City Radio Station, built by Guglielmo Marconi, February 12, 1931] Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi Calò, #28; Mazio-Jencius, 890.. |
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(AV, AG,) AE 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS • XI •PONTIFEX • MAXIMVS •A •XII • (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope, l., wearing zucchetto and cope. |
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[in exergue:] •ROMA• |
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(AV) AG (AE) 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · AN · XIII · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope,rl., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. |
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ANNO · SACRO · REDEMPTIONIS · FELICITER · ABSOLVTO · The bare cross, with seven kneeling saints gathered below, floating on clouds. [Commemorates the closing of the special Holy Year of 1933-34, observing the 2000th year since the Redemption. In April-May, 1934, seven saints were canonized.] Sculptor: Aurelio Mistruzzi Calò, #48; Mazio-Jencius, 893.. |
The seven saints were: St. John Bosco, St. Conrad of Parzham, Sta. Teresa Margherita, St. Giuseppe Cottolegno,
Sta. Louise de Marillac, St. Pompilio Porrotti, and Sta Maria Michele del Santissimo Sacramento.
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(AV, AG,) AE 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · A · XV · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. |
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AG 44 mm. Obv.: PIVS · XI · PONTIFEX · MAXIMVS · A · XVII · (beneath the bust:) MISTRUZZI Bust of the pope, r., wearing zucchetto, mozzetta, and stole. |
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Rev.: AN•CD•A•NAT•S•CAROLI•BOROMAEI (in exergue:) ATHENAEVM•LATERAN | A•FVNDAMENTIS | EXCITATVM |
John Paul Adams, CSUN
john.p.adams@csun.edu